Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-04-16
ORIOKErs.
Some Of the Popular Superstitions About
These lnsects---How Tnev Afford
Amusement 10 the Children in the Old

These lnsects---How They Afford
Amusement TO the Children in the Old
Countries.
Although man is essentially n grcga-
rious animal, vet he sometimes gains
greatest pleasure from being alone.
This propensity carried to one extreme
results in ones being "A hermit or re-
cluse. INDUCED to the other extreme,
he becomes a silly, chattering society
man, who cannot consent 10 be alone
because he does not contain sufficient
mental qualification to be amused by
his own company. Between the two is
a mean, and in il are included al who
occasionally like TO be alone and quiet,
not to pout and sulk, not ever TO med
itate or study, but simply to feel that
for the time being nobody is near.
This feeling is one that can be INDUCED
in TO its utmost by those who 90 to the
haunts Of nature, walking in the groves
and pastures with no companions but
other beings who are born, live and die
under the open canopy of heaven, with
no thought of their human n%eighbors,
independent Of them and happy with
out them. A ramble through such
scenes is best enjoyed alone, or per-
haps with a companion who shares the
pleasure. One who will stop when you
do and not keep saying, 'Oh, come
on;' one who will keep quiet, talk, cx-
anime, stop, and 90 forward just to
suit the other onc-such a companion
is delightful; any other is n terrible
bore. Everybody has a friend or two
in whom he has perfect confidence and
a complete understanding. Each
knows the others moods and falls in
with them; no words or explanations
are necessary. When the quiet feeling
zones on it is just as delightful to be
in the company Of such n one as to be
alone. 1t is not even necessary to
talk, and this is the very type of good
fellowship.
If one should hunt the animal world
over for a companion for his quiet
moments. none could be found, per-
haps, which so well fits the place as
the gentle, merry little cricket. Its
cheerful sound is heard from April to
October, and although unmusical, as
ftr AS harmony goes, and rather harsh,
still to many it has a tendency to
soothc and bring about a condition
calculated to set one amusing. Mr..
White, in his delightful little book,
THE Natural History of Sclborne,"
says Of his music: sounds do not
always give us pleasure according to
the sweetness and melody, nor do
harsh sounds always displease. We
are more apt to be c~aptlvatcd or dis
gustcd with the associa tons which
they promote than the note themselves.
Thus, the shrilling Of the field cricket,
though sharp and stridulous, yet mar
.vclously delights some hearers, filling
their minds with n train of summer
ideas of everything that is rural, YER
durous and joyous" Crickets, like
many other objects of nature, have
their share in literature, and, in what
lives longer, the superstition of the
people. Many believe, and all have
heard it said, that a cricket singing in
the house is a harbinger Of good for
tune. Cowper refers to this supersti-
ton. He says:
Little inmate full o. mirth,
CHIPPING on my kitchen hearth,
Whcresoe'er be thine abode,
Always barbinger OF good,
Pay me for thy warm retreat
With II song more soft and sweet.
1t is not always, however, that the
crickets are regarded as lucky, and
they fare badly in consequence. Some
people think that if they are heard in
the house it presages IA death IN the
family, and means are at once taken to
drive them out. Luckily for the harm
less ilLllc DttSi, DicSt Vi tltb oiithS W
in its favor. In parts of England it is
thought killing crickets will bring bad
luck. a broken bone, n lovers quarrel,
or some such calamity, and if crickets
forsake a house it foretells death. AS
TO the insect being lucky or unlucky,
everyone must decide for himself. 1t
depends entirely upon the person who
hears the cricket. If he thinks it is
lucky, then the first piece of good for
IN le he has after hearing the cricket's
Oh rp goes down to It's credit. On the
other hand if he thinks it unlucky, the
same process OF bookkeeping is re-
sorted to, except that misfortunes 90 on
the other page-that is, the debtor.
However, the little orthoptera goes on
singing, unmindful and careless of the